Recess Weather Guidelines
Outdoor recess is an important part of your child’s school day. It gives students a chance to enjoy fresh air, stay active, and play in ways that aren’t always possible indoors. Whenever it’s safe and practical, schools make every effort to hold recess outside.
Indoor recess is only used as a backup option during inclement weather. Shifting to indoor recess for an entire season, like winter, regardless of daily weather conditions, is not encouraged. Instead, schools follow specific guidelines to decide each day whether recess will be indoors or outdoors.
We want students to have the opportunity to play outside as much as possible while ensuring their safety and well-being. Please check with your school for more details on how weather decisions are made for recess.
Cold Weather Guidelines
| Weather | Indoor/Outdoor |
|---|---|
| Above 32°F with or without wind chill | Outdoors |
| 15 F to 32° F with or without wind chill | Principal Discretion |
| Below 15° F with or without wind chill | Indoor |
Schools should exercise the following precautionary measures if holding recess outdoors:
- Precipitation: snow and icy conditions should be evaluated for student safety and attire.
- Student preparedness: students should have appropriate outdoor attire to stay warm and dry during recess.
- Playground safety: the playground equipment and surface (i.e., icy conditions) should be evaluated to determine whether students can safely play outdoors.
With or without wind chill means how cold it feels, whether it is caused by wind chill or not. For example, if the straight temperature reading is 10º or if it's 20º with a wind chill of 10º, recess should be held indoors.
Proper Attire
Parents/guardians and principals should ensure students are properly dressed for outdoor recess during all seasons. During the winter months, students should be reminded to wear coats, gloves (without strings), hats, and boots.
Warm Weather Guidelines
| Weather | Indoor/Outdoor |
|---|---|
| Heat Index of 90°F or below | Outdoors |
| Heat Index between 91°F and 94°F | Principal Discretion |
| Heat Index above 95°F | Indoors |
Heat Index takes into account both air temperature and relative humidity.
Precautionary Measures for Outdoor Recess
- Activity level: Students should participate in only light to moderate physical activity.
- Student preparedness: Students should wear appropriate attire during warm weather.
- Playground equipment: Check equipment and surfaces before recess. Supervisors should ensure students do not play on equipment that is extremely hot to the touch.
- Water access: Students should have access to water before and/or after recess. Any student showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat-related illness (e.g., heavy sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, weak pulse, clammy skin) should be provided with water immediately and moved to a cooler location.
Other Warm Weather Considerations
Recess supervisors should be aware of medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, and medications, especially on warm weather days, as these may put a student at higher risk for heat illness. Schools should designate a shaded area as a cool-down space for students who need a break from exposure or activity. Supervisors should perform well-being checks by asking students how they feel. Students who report feeling weak, dizzy, or nauseous, or are sweating heavily or experiencing cramps, should get water and take a break in the cool-down area.
Proper Attire
When the forecast indicates hot and/or humid weather, principals should remind students and parents to hydrate properly, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, and proper shoes (no sandals or heeled shoes).